Hoop-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. CONNELL.

HOOP MACHINE.

No. 390,207, Patented 0011.2, 1888.

Fig: 1

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. GONNELL.

HOOP MACHINE.

No. 390,207. Patented 001;. 2, 1888'.

m vzrzn, PhMn-Lilncgnphnr. Washington. a. c.

'(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. OONNELL.

HOOP MAQEINEi 8 No. 390,207. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

hogmphel'. Washington, D. c.

(No Model '4 Sheets-Sheet J. GONNELL.

HOOP MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

WITNESSES Nv FEYERS. Phm-yLimo n har, wnhin mn, B. C.

UNITED dramas arnnm trims.

JOHN CONNELL, OF ROCHESTER, NE\V YORK.

HOOP-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,207, dated Qetoloer 2, 1888.

Application filed May 1, 1886.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN CONN-ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roches ter, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Hoop-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements on the machine for making hoops described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 256,468, issued April 18, 1832, which improvements are fully described and illustrated in the following specification and accompany ing drawings, the novel features thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompany drawings, representing my improvements in hoop-machines, Figure 1 is a rear elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the knife-bar detached. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lapper-knife bars detached. Fig. 6 is a side elevation. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the pointer-knife bar and pointer-knife. Fig.8 is a plan view of the pointerknife bar and knife. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line a: 00, Fig. Fig. 10 represents the cam andlever for operating the rocking shafts which shift the lapper knives.

In the accompanying drawings, A A represent the side frames; B, the reciprocating knife-bar carrying the dividing-knife O.

I) is the main driving shaft, journaled in suitable bearings on the upper ends of the side frames, A A, and provided on each endwith the cranks E E, from which, by means of the connections F F,a reciprocating movement is transmitted to the knifebar B. The side frames are provided with the vertical slots (1, Fig. 6,in which the knife-bar reciprocates.

G is the bed-plate of the machine, which is provided with the wooden strip 0, Fig. 9, eX- tending across the machine and serving to support the board under the cutting action of the knife. The board which is to be cut into hoops is represented by the dotted lines H in Figs. 6 and 9. Provision is made for tilting the board relatively to the knife, so that the hoops cut therefrom will possess the proper bevel, by means of a series of bars, 0 I), which Serial No. 3.00.782. (N0 model.)

are pivoted at their inner ends on the bedplate G, and have their outer ends arranged to be moved -up and down, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9, by means of the rockshaft d and a series of cams, 6. An oscillating motion is imparted to the rockshaft d from the cam I, Fig. 6, by means of the sliding rod h, lever z, and link j. The shaft J,which carries the cam I, is driven from the main shaft D, by means of the pinion and gear K K, at one-half of the speed of the shaft D, and the cam I is so proportioned that the bars I) are elevated or tilted just before one of the downward strokes of the knife 0, and depressed again immediately before the nextstroke, so that the proper bevel is given to the hoops cut by the ma chine, as described in the patent before mentioned. The knife 0 at one stroke cuts through the board on a line at right angles with the width of the board, and on the next stroke at such an inclination therewith as to give the hoops the proper bevel in cross-section.

The inner ends of bars I) are pivoted or otherwise attached to the upper edge of the bedplate G, so that they may have the requisite tilting motion, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 6. Each of the bars b is operated by a separate cam, e, on the rockshaft (1. Provision is made for varying the inclination given to the bars Z) by shifting the position of the link j relatively to the rockshaft d, thereby altering the length of the lever g, as indicated in Fig. 6. The spring 76, Fig. 6, serves to keep the upper end of the sliding bar h, which may be provided with a frictionroller, in contact with the cam I. The bar It is arranged to slidein a suitable journal, Z, attached to the side frame of the machine. A weight, W, Fig. 6, may also be employed for the same purpose as the spring 70.

Proceeding now to a description of the mechanism for operating the pointing-knives m m, which act on the edge of the board before the hoop is cut therefrom, I arrange at the proper distance apart corresponding to the length of the hoop and at right angles withthe length of the knifebar the guides or ways a n,i11 which the knife'bars L,carrying the pointing-knives,reciprocate. The outer ends of the ways at are supported by the arms or brackets M, provision being made for adjusting the slides vertically, to adapt the machine to the movements of the slides L L alternate with the movements of the knife-bar B. The result of this arrangement is that the board is acted on by the pointing-knives first on one end and then on the other, as is required to produce hoops pointed at the right end relatively to their beveled form. The shaft J is supported in a suitable journal, g, on the side frame of the machine, its inner end being arranged to revolve in ajournal on the upright standard R, attached to the cross-bar T, which extends across between the side frames of the machine. The levers N N are sustained by the rockshaft U, arranged to oscillate in suitablejournals on the side frames and crossbar. The lower ends of the levers N N are connected by the links r with the slides L L.

In order to regulate the throw of the knife and the depth at which it cuts into the edge of the board, I pivot the outer ends of the links r on the studs s,inserted in the brackets t, (see Fig. 2,) which are adjnstably connected with the slide L. The bracket t is secured to the upper side of the slide L by means of screws or bolts passing through slots, a nd provision is made for adjusting the bracket backward and forward on the movable pointerknife bar by means of the adjustingserews u u passing through lugs on the bar.

A suitable spring may be arranged to draw or force the sliding pointer-bar outward; but I prefer to adopt the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 6, in which the pointer-bar is forced outward positively by an inclined cam or wedge, 12, attached to the knife-bar. The cam 11 as it descends acts upon the roller 00, attached to the arm 2, connected with the lever N. The arm 2 is arranged to slide through a suitable support attached to the lever N, an elastic cushion, a, being interposed between the bar and the lever, as indicated in Fig. 6. The cushion a, which may be a piecc'of india-rubher, is supported against the thrust of the bar by the rods 1) and the cross-head c. The parts are so proportioned and adjusted that whenever the knife-bar B descends the pointer-bar is positively forced outward, so as to prevent contact between the dividing-knife O and the pointer-knives. Provision is made for adj usting the pointer-knives lengthwise of the machine, so as to adapt it to making hoops of different lengths, by means of the angular brackets h h. (Shown most clearly in Fig. 1.) These brackets extend inward from the arms M M, the ways an being attached to their upper surfaces, so that they may be adjusted length'wise of the machine thereon, asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The ways are secured to the brackets by screws inserted from below. The inner ends of the ways are supported from the side frames by brackets similar to those used at the outer ends, and both the outer and inner brackets are made adjustable vertically by means of the screws 0 0 inserted through slots in the side frames and arms M. By this construction I provide for adjusting the pointer-knives lengthwise to suit any desired length of hoops, and vertically to suit hoops of different widths. The studs 8 s are made long enough to permit the adjustment lengthwise.

As already mentioned, the pointer-knife-bar L reciprocates backward and forward in the way a at the proper time to form the point of the hoop on the edge of the board before the hoop is cut therefrom, and also at the proper time relatively to the tilting motion of the bars or skeleton board-supporting table I) to point the hoops at the right end. The pointer-knife m consists of a strip of steel, bent into a suitable form to give the shape to the point of the hoop, sharpened on its edge, and secured to a knife-stock, t, on the end of the pointer-bar. The form usually given the pointer-knife is shown in Fig. 3.

Inside the knife is placed the clearer j, Fig. 7, the function of which is to prevent the pointer-knife from cutting too deep into the edge of the board, and also to free the knife from chips.

The clearer j is attached to a threaded rod, k, which passes through a hole in the end of the knife-bar L, and has a stop or nut, Z, affixed thereto, which, when the knife-bar recedes or moves outward, strikes against a shoulder or stud, m, Fig. 7, on the guideway n, and arrests the motion of the clearer, while the knife m, continuing to move, slides over the clearer, so that chips or dbris inside the knife are forced out or discharged. This action of the parts is indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 7. The face of the clearer may also be made adjustable relatively to the edge of the pointer knife, so as to adjust the depth of the cut made in the edge of the board, by the stop a, Figs. 7 and 8, or other suitable device. The stop it consists of a bar adj ustably attached to the pointerknife bar by means of a screw passing through a slot and having its end bent so as to bear against the extremity of the threaded rod k,which is attached to the clearer. The upper ends of the levers N N may be provided with friction-rollers. Screws 1), Fig. 1, may be employed for adjusting the arm it up and down on the side frames and arms M.

The mechanism for clamping the board and holding it in place during the operation of cutting the hoops from the edges thereof is represented in detail in Fig. 9. It consists, essentially, of a cam or eccentric, a, on the main shaft D, a lever, b, an arm or spring, 0',

and a rod, d, to the lower end of which is attached a serrated or toothed jaw, e, which bears on the upper side of theboard. Theinner end of the lever b" is preferably provided with aroller, f, which bears against the cam a. The lever b is sustained by a rock-shaft, 5 g, mounted in suitable bearings, h, Fig. 1.

From the upper end of the lever an arm or series of springs, reaches over the main driving-shaft D, and bears on a roller, i, Fig. 9, arranged to revolve on a stud or pin inserted to in the block jon the upper end of the rod (1. The rod (1 is arranged to slide up and down in the bearings it, carried by a suitable arm or bracket attached to the side frame of the machine. The upper end of the rod (2 is [5 threaded into an opening in the block j", a jam-nut being used on the rod to secure it in place. Thelower end of the rod is also threaded and inserted in a threaded eye, l, on the upper end of the bar a", to the lower end of which the serrated jaw e" is secured. The bar a is arranged to slide up and down in a suitable guideway, 1)", attached to the side frame of the machine by suitable arms or brackets. The lower end of the rod (1 slides through a suitable eye or journal q", attached to the guideway p". A spring, 1'', applied to the rod (1, serves to force it upward and keep the roller at its upper end continually in contact with the arm or spring 0. A jam-nut is placed on the rod (1, below the eye Z. The threads on the upper and lower ends of the rod (1 being made of different pitches, a very fine adjustment is provided by turning the rod to regulate the position of the serrated jaw ewhen at the lower part of its movement, so as to adapt the machine to cutting boards of different thicknesses.

The operation of this portion of the machine will have been already understood from the 0 preceding description. As the cam a revolves, it forces downward the inner end of the lever b, and this movement is transmitted by the bar or spring a to the rod (1 and the toothed jaw e,which is thereby forced against the upper side of the board, so as to hold it in place during the operations of forming the point on the hoop, cutting the lapand taper and seven ing the hoops from its edge. The return movement of the rod and jaw is effected by the spring 1', so as to permit the operator to slide the board (indicated by the dotted lines H) farther into the machine when the dividing knife 0 is at the upper part of its travel. The

' mechanism for clamping the board in place is the same on both sides of the machine, the

cams a being arranged to operate simultaneously, so that the toothed jaws e at each end of the board descend at the same time, and at each reciprocation of the main knife (1. The

guideways p are sustained in place by the arms 8, Fig. 3, attached to the side frames of the machine.

Passing now to a description of the lapping and tapering knives, it wil be observed from Fig.4 that the knifebar B is provided below the knife 0 with the cross-bar 0", to the lower side of which the pointer and lapper knife bars A A are pivoted.

V V represent the lappcr-k nives, which reciprocate up and down with. the knife-bar B and the knife Obeing arranged to cut a tapered slice from the edge of the board at the proper times to give the hoop which is to be cut therefrom the proper form-previous to the separation of the hoop from the edge ofthe 7 board by the main knife ,0. The knife-bars A A are pivoted to the lower side of the crossbar 0 at s 3", Figs. 4 and 5. 'The weight of the outer ends of the knife-bars is supported by the screws or studs 15 25, inserted into the lower side of the cross-bar 0 through the slots uu, Fig. 5, which permit the outer ends of the bars to swingashort distance, so as to vary the size of the tapering chip cut from the board at its ends by the knivcsV V, as it is required to cut the lap on the wide end of the hoop or to taper or trim down the end on which the. point is formed. The knives V'V are operated alternately for this purpose by means of the vertical rock-shafts w w, actuated by the cams ee on the shaftsJ J. The lapper-knife bars and knives areswung in one direction by the rock-shafts ww, but are moved in the other by the springs o 22, Figs. 1, 4, and 5. The inncr ends of the springs o o are attached to the side of the cross-bar 0', while their outer ends bear against adjustingscrews inserted in the offset-arms y y, attached to the lapper-bars. The rock-shaft w is sustainedin suitable boxes attached to the sideframes,one of which boxes orjournals is shown at 2', Fig. 8.

At its upper end the rockshaft w is provided with a bent arm, m, reaching upward and inward, and carrying a roller which bears against the cam or eccentric 0. The arm m is rigidly connected with the rockshaft, and the result of this arrangement is that as the cam e revolves the rock -shaft is caused to oscillate slightly about its vertical axis and to move the outer end of the lappcr bar, compressing the spring 2;. The amount of movement permitted in the lapper-bar is determined by the set'screw S, inserted in a lug on the cross-bar T, and bearing against the arm m on the rockshaft. The rock-shaft may be provided with a projecting rib or flange, which bears direetl y on the outer end ofthe lapper-bar, being made of sufficient length to permit the vertical reciprocation of the bar with the main knife 0; but I prefer to provide it with the lugs pp, Fig. 4, into which the be'aringbar q" is jour ualed, which bar is provided with a flat side which bears against the end of the lapper-bar and affords a large wearing surface. The rockshaft, arm, andcam are shown detached in plan view in Fig. 10.

In order to permit the board to be thrust by the operator far enough intothe machine so that the lappenknives may act on it properly, I attach to the bar 0 the guards a, which ex tend downward and have their lower ends arranged to slide in suitable guides, b, attached ICC to the crossbar G. The guards a are pro vided with a slight offset or bend at c, Fig. 9, so that as the knife-bar B descends the board, after having been subjected to the action of the lapping or tapering knives, is forced back toward the operator, so that hoops of the proper thickness are cut from the board by the main knife 0. Above the bar 0 extend the arms or guides d, which are bent backward slightly so as to permit thehoop cut from the'edge of the board by the knife 0 to pass upward be tween them and the knife to be discharged from the machine.

I claim- 1. In ahoop-machine, the combinatiomwith the reciprocating pointer-knife,ofa clearer carried thereby and operating loosely therein,and a stationary stop with which the clearer positively engages when the knife is retracted after making a cut, arresting its movement and permitting the knife to move over it, substantially as described.

2. In a hoop-machine, the combination, with the reciprocating support and thepointer-knife thereon, of a clearer carried by the knife and operating loosely in it, a stationary stop, with which the clearer engages to move it outward upon the backward movement of the knife, and an adjustable stop on the support engaging the clearer and limiting its movement when moved in by the material being cut, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the reciprocating bar and the pointer-knife carried thereon, of the clearer carried thereby-,operating therein, the rod to which it is attached, and an adj ustaabl'e stop with which the rod engages to limit the movement of the clearer, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the reciprocating bar and the pointer-knife carried thereby, of the clearer operating therein, the threaded rod connected to the clearer, the block or nut mounted thereon, and the stop with which the said block cooperates, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a reciprocating bar carrying the hoop-cutting knife, of the re ciproeatiug pointer-knives and cams actuated simultaneously with the hoop-cutting knife for forcing the pointer-knives positively out of the path of the latter, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the reciprocating bar carrying the vertically-operating knife, of the reciprocating knife or knives operating at an angle to the first-mentioned one,and aeam or cams operating simultaneously with one of the knives for operating upon the other to move it out when said knife is operated, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a reciprocating cutting-knife operating positively in both directions, of a reciprocating knife operating upon material at substantially the same point as the first-mentioned one, mechanism, substantially as described, for operati ng said knife positively in one direction, and a surface or projection operated simultaneously with the first-mentioned knife for operating upon and positively retracting the other knife when moved into position to operate upon the material, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the reciprocating k nife-bar, the knife, and the cams carried thereby, of the levers, the pointer-knives operated thereby, and the elastic cushions or buffers interspersed between the cams and levers, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the reciprocating knife bar carrying the knife, the independent pointer-knives, and thelevcrs operating them, of the shaft having the cams thereon operating upon the levers alternately, the shaft from which the first-mentioned knife is operated, and connection between the two shafts, whereby the one operating the reciprocating knifebar rotates twice as rapidly as the other, sub stantially as described.

10. The combination,with the reciprocating slide, of the pointer-knife'carried thereon, the way in which said carriage slides, and the adjustable bracket supporting the way, substair tially as described.

11. Thecombinatiomwith the work-snpport, the slide, and the pointerknives mounted thereon, said slide having the extended pin, of the pivoted levers for operating the slides con nected to the extended pin, and the adjustable brackets carrying said slides, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the work-support and the cam, the clampingjaw, and a surface through which the cam operates on the jaw, of a rod forming the connection between said surface andjaw,having differential screw-threads thereon co operating with corresponding threads in said jaw and surface, respectively, whereby an accurate adjustment of the jaw may be obtained, substantially as described.

13. The combination,with work-support and the cam, the clamping-jaw,'a surface through which the cam operates on thejaw,and aspring interposed between the cam and surface, of a rod forming the connection between said surface and jaw, having differential threads thereon co -operating with threads in saidjaw and surface, respectively, whereby an accurate adjustment of the jaw may be obtained, substantially as described.

14. The combination of the main shaft, the cams mounted thereon, the pivoted levers having the springs thereon, the clamping-jaw, and the rods connected thereto, on which the springs operate, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a reciprocating support or bar, the independent arms carrying the lapper-knives mounted thcreon,and means, substantially as described, for causing their independent movement, as set forth.

16. The combination ofa reciprocatingsupport and means for operating it, the independentlymoving lapper knives mounted thereon, and cams arranged to operate on said knives through suitable connections to cause IIO corresponding their independent projection in a line transversely to the line of the movement of the reciprocating support, and connections between said bar and knife operating devices,whereby the latter will be projected alternately at each reciprocation of the bar, substantially as described.

17. The combination of the reciprocating support, independently-moving lapper-knives mounted thereon, and camsurfaces operating on the knives through suitable connections, each cam-surface arranged to cause a slight and then a full movementof its knife in aline transverse to the movement of the knife-support, said cam-surfaces being so arranged relative to each other that when one knife is moved slightly the other will be moved to the greatest extent, substantially as described.

18. In a hoop -machine, the combination of the reciprocating support, the independently-moving lapper-knives mounted thereon, and cam-surfaces operating the knives through suitable connections, each cam surface arranged to cause a slight and then a full movement of the knife in a line transverse to the movement of the support, and cam'surfaces being so arranged relative to each other that when one knife is moved slightly the other will be moved fully, the independently-movable pointer-knives, means, substantially as described, for moving them, and connections, substantially as described, between the lapperknife-projecting surfaces and the pointer-knifeinoving means,whereby the pointer-knife corresponding to the lapper-knife moved a slight distance will be operated during that movement of the reciprocating support, as set forth.

19. In a hoop machine, the combination, with the reciprocating bar, the knife, the in dependently-movable lapper-knives connected therewith, and amain shaft from which the bar is reeiprocated, of a second shaft geared to the first to rotate at half its speed, two sets of camsurfaces connected thereto, two reciprocating pointer-knives operated alternately from one set of cams, and connections, substantially as described, between the other set of cams and the lapper-knivcs, said last-mentioned cams belng arranged to project one lapper-knife slightly and the other fully at each revolution of the shaft, substantially as described. i

20. The combination of the reciprocating bar, the movable knife secured thereto, a rock shaft mounted in stationary bearings having a bearing-surface to cooperate with the knife, and means, substantially as described, for rocking said shaft, as set forth. I

21. The combination of the reciprocating bar, the pivoted knife secured thereto, a rockshaft mounted in stationary bearings having a bearing-surface arranged to co-operate wlth the knife and arm on the shaft, and a cam op erating therewith, substantially as described.

22. The combination,with the reciprocating bar, the movable knife thereon, and the spring for operating upon the knife, of its rockshaft mounted in stationary bearings having an arm and a bearing-surface arranged to co-operate with the knife, and a screw for adjusting its throw, and a cam operating to turn the shaft, substantially as described.

23. The eombination,with the reciprocating bar, and the movable knife thereon, of the rock shaft mounted on stationary bearings having the lugs and the bearing-bar journaled therein provided with an arm, and a cam operating on said arm, substantially as described.

JOHN GONNELL.

Witnesses:

A. Sonora, J r., GEO. B. SELDEN. 

